Glue trap warning as snake is latest victim

A pet corn snake in Croydon was rescued by the RSPCA after becoming the latest victim to get caught in a potentially lethal ‘glue trap’

When RSPCA Inspector Ellen Thomas was called to an incident at a family home in Selhurst on Tuesday, January 16, she found a small snake struggling to escape the deadly clutches of a piece of cardboard covered in strong adhesive.

Inspector Thomas said: “The corn snake was completely glued onto this horrible commercially-bought trap. The more the poor little animal thrashed around on the sticky cardboard trying to free himself, the more stuck he became, and when I got there he couldn’t move at all.

“The family were able to give me some baby oil, which I used to gently weaken the bond between the highly sticky cardboard and his delicate skin and scales. Thankfully, I managed to free him, and happily he was virtually unharmed.

“We think this little corn snake is someone’s escaped pet that came into the family’s house from the cold, and it would be lovely to reunite him with his owner.

“Anyone with information should call the RSPCA confidential appeals line on 0300 123 8018.”

Single adult Robin lying on glue trap

The RSPCA advises that if a member of public finds an animal in a glue trap, they should take it to a vet or contact the animal charity for advice, rather than attempting to release it themselves, as it requires special care and experience.

Glue traps are indiscriminate, causing death and unnecessary suffering to all kinds of animals. Only trained operators should use them, according to industry codes of practice, so retailers should not be selling them to the general public.

Inspector Thomas continued: “The distraught family had been trying to solve a mouse problem in their kitchen and had bought this horrible device in good faith from a local market stall.

“Now I’ve explained to them how dangerous they are to all kinds of animals and the suffering experienced by animals caught in them, they have vowed never to use them again.

“These glue traps are a really nasty invention that do not discriminate between animals. Here at the RSPCA we’ve seen robins, owls and even kittens trapped by them. These traps shouldn’t be sold directly to the public and we would strongly discourage people from buying them as they are so cruel.”

If you see an animal you have concerns about, call the RSPCA’s emergency line on 0300 1234 999.